True or False : #2 Nicotine

We’ve written about the main preconceived ideas regarding e-cigarettes and health issues in a previous article. Today we’ll focus more specifically on nicotine.

It goes without saying that this article is in no way an incentive to consume nicotine or nicotine products. It’s here for your information only.

Idea #1 « Nicotine is bad for your health »

This claim comes directly from the amalgam that’s systematically made with tobacco and nicotine.

It’s true that nicotine is the main addictive factor in cigarettes. It’s essentially the reason why it’s so difficult to quit smoking. Its biggest flaw is therefore its addictive side.

But it does not represent a specific health risk at consumed doses by a smoker or vapers. We’ll never repeat it enough, it’s the smoke from combustion that’s highly toxic and kills ! And remember, vape products do not contain tobacco and it’s entirely possible to vape without nicotine.

Idea #2 « Nicotine is not a natural product »

That’s not true. Nicotine is an alkaloid found in plants of the Solanaceae family (which also includes some vegetables, such as tomatoes, potatoes, or eggplants).

It’s extracted from the dried tobacco plant leaves.

Idea #3 « Nicotine is highly addictive »

Yes, that’s true. Indeed, nicotine stimulates and favours the release of dopamine, a neurotransmitter heavily involved in many dependencies and that triggers a feeling of pleasure.

The half-life timespan for nicotine is 30-120min depending on the amount absorbed. The body therefore metabolizes it fairly quickly. This means that a smoker will experience withdrawal symptoms such as nervousness or irritation after a short time. These symptoms are perceived as stress, which disappears when a cigarette is consumed. It’s then falsely linked with relaxation.

In reality the stress felt is caused by the lack of nicotine. It has been indeed demonstrated that smokers are more stressed in general than non-smokers.

The strong addictive nature of nicotine is reinforced by its association with certain components present in tobacco and with the nicotine shoot when smoking.

This shoot, extremely fast and powerful when smoking a cigarette, quickly helps the withdrawal. The diffusion and assimilation of nicotine being less fast with nicotine substitutes (vape, patches, etc.), these products are therefore much less addictive.


Idea #4 « Nicotine is carcinogenic »


False ! Nicotine is not carcinogenic ! As previously mentioned, it’s the combustion of cigarettes that is. Cigarette smoke contains many toxic compounds such as tar or carbon monoxide.

Nicotine acts on many of the body’s physiological systems, such as the brain, blood flow, insulin production, or hormonal secretions. It’s however not linked to cancers provoked by tobacco combustion.

E-cigarettes allow smokers to satisfy their craving for nicotine while limiting their exposure to carcinogenic compounds found in a traditional cigarette.

Idea #5 « You can suffer from nicotine overdose »


With the quantities used when vaping, there’s no risk of overdose per se. Indeed, when we consume too much nicotine (for example, when vaping on our e-cigarette too often), the body quickly lets us know through mild symptoms such as headaches, dry mouth, dizziness and digestive problems (nausea and vomiting).

You've heard that nicotine can kill ? It has been arbitrarily repeated for 150 years that it does if taken in high doses, about 60mg for an adult.  In 2013 researchers looked into the question and came to the conclusion that this value was far too low. The lethal dose would be between 500mg and 1g of nicotine.

Idea #6 « Nicotine is as dangerous as hard drugs »

As previously mentioned, nicotine in itself is not dangerous to health. However, it’s a psychoactive substance (like caffeine or theine) and highly addictive.

But it does not represent a danger to humans when used responsibly.

Idea #7 « Nicotine is an anti-depressant »

This is true. Many smokers, unknowingly, seek the anti-depressant effects of nicotine. Indeed, nicotine inhibits the production of monoamine-oxidase A, a substance naturally present in the brain, and favours the release of chemical messengers (neuro-mediators, like dopamine, serotonin and noradrenalin), that play a role in the feelings of pleasure and well-being.

 

Withdrawal can therefore induce a state of sadness or depression. These feelings diminish after 10-30 days and disappear after 2 months.

However, not everyone feels these symptoms, and they can be softened or eliminated with appropriate techniques (nicotine substitute - e.g. e-cig, professional advice, etc.).